Foot throttle for all-terrain vehicles

ABSTRACT

A foot operated throttle for all-terrain vehicles having an engine for propelling the vehicle, two handlebars for steering the vehicle, and a throttle lever connected to one of said two handlebars for controlling the speed of the engine, the foot operated throttle including a foot pedal assembly connected to an all-terrain vehicle for selective actuation by a foot of an operator of an all-terrain vehicle, and a cable assembly connected to the foot pedal assembly and to a throttle lever mounted on a handle bar of the all-terrain vehicle for movement of the throttle lever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to control systems for all-terrainvehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to throttlesystems for all-terrain vehicles.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] All-terrain vehicles have become very popular throughout theworld, and especially in the United States. All-terrain vehicles aresometimes referred to by the abbreviation “ATV”. Such all-terrainvehicles have an internal combustion engine for propelling the vehicleand handlebars for steering the vehicle. Control of the throttle of theengine of an all-terrain vehicle is commonly connected to righthandlebar of the vehicle by a spring loaded lever located near the endof one of the right handlebar of the vehicle. The throttle lever ispositioned on the handlebar for convenient engagement by the thumb ofthe right hand of the rider of the vehicle while the fingers of theright hand grasp a handgrip commonly located on the end of thehandlebars.

[0005] To operate the conventional throttle mounted on the righthandlebar of an all-terrain vehicle, the right hand must remain on thehandgrip on the handlebar for the thumb of the right hand to engage thethrottle lever mounted on the handlebars. If the right hand is needed toperform other tasks, the throttle must be released causing theall-terrain vehicle to decelerate rapidly.

[0006] There is thus a need for providing a throttle system which may beengaged when the right hand is needed to perform tasks other thanholding the right handlebar while the throttle of the all-terrainvehicle is depressed.

[0007] Related art of which applicants are aware are the following: U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,040,596; 3,600,968; 4,059,025; 4,109,546; 4,109,746;4,197,761; 4,811,620; 5,197,347 and 5,967,252.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a foot-operatedthrottle for all-terrain vehicles.

[0009] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a footoperated throttle for all-terrain vehicles having an engine forpropelling said vehicle, two handlebars for steering said vehicle, and athrottle lever connected to one of said two handlebars for controllingthe speed of said engine, including a foot pedal assembly connected toan all-terrain vehicle for selective actuation by a foot of an operatorof an all-terrain vehicle, and a cable assembly connected to the footpedal assembly and to a throttle lever mounted on a handle bar of theall-terrain vehicle.

[0010] The foot throttle of the present invention has the advantage ofbeing quickly and easily connected to any all-terrain vehicle.

[0011] The foot throttle of the invention has the additional advantageof enabling an all-terrain vehicle operator to free the hand normallyused to activate the throttle of the all-terrain for other uses whilethe throttle of all-terrain vehicle is controlled by one foot of theoperator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the foot throttlesystem of the invention,

[0013]FIG. 2 is a partly cut-away side view of the foot throttle of FIG.1 being depressed by the foot of the rider shown in phantom lines, and

[0014]FIG. 3 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the foot throttleof FIG. 1 shown attached to a common all-terrain vehicle of the priorart depicted in phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, thefoot throttle of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10.A common all-terrain vehicle well known in the art on which footthrottle 10 is connected is generally indicated in FIG. 3 by the numeral12.

[0016] A portion of the right handlebar of all-terrain vehicle 12 isgenerally indicated by the numeral 14 in FIGS. 1 and 3. As can be bestseen in FIG. 1, right handlebar 14 has a common throttle lever 16 wellknown in the art which is pivotally connected to common cylindricalthrottle housing 18 well known in the art. Handlebar 14 also has acommon handgrip 20 well known in the art connected at the end thereof,and a conventional brake actuating lever 22 well known in the artpivotally connected to handlebar 14 adjacent to handgrip 20 to slow arestop all-terrain vehicle 12.

[0017] Cylindrical throttle housing 18 is rigidly connected to handlebar14 in a conventional manner well known in the art. A throttle cablesheath 18 a extends from cylindrical throttle housing 18 to the throttleof the engine of all-terrain vehicle 12 as is well known in the art tocontrol the engine speed of all-terrain vehicle 12. Throttle cablesheath 18 a has a common movable throttle wire 18 b therein as is wellknown in the art which is connected to the throttle of the engine ofall-terrain vehicle 12. Throttle cable sheath 18 a is connected tohandlebar 14 by clamp 14 a.

[0018] Thus to operate the throttle of the engine of all-terrain vehicle12, throttle lever 16 is moved toward and away from handgrip 20 asindicated by the arrow 24 in FIG. 1 by the thumb of the right hand ofthe operator of all-terrain vehicle 12 as is well known in the art.Movement of throttle lever 16 causes throttle wire 18 b to move backwardand forward as indicated by the arrow 26 in FIG. 1 vary the speed of theengine of all terrain vehicle 12. Throttle housing 18 has a commonspring mechanism well known in the art to bias throttle lever 16 awayfrom handgrip 20 when the thumb of the operator of all-terrain vehicle12 is released from throttle lever 16 to lower the speed of the engineof all-terrain vehicle to an idle.

[0019] Foot throttle assembly 10 includes a pedal assembly generallyindicated by the numeral 30 which is connected to throttle lever 16 by athrottle cable assembly generally indicated by the numeral 31. Pedalassembly 30 includes a pivoting, preferably generally rectangularthrottle pedal generally indicated by the numeral 32 which is depressedby the foot 33 of the operator of all-terrain vehicle 12 as indicated bythe arrow 35 in FIG. 2. Throttle pedal 32 pivots upwardly and downwardlyas indicated by the arrow 37 in FIG. 1.

[0020] Throttle pedal 32 has a plurality of spaced apart hollow circularrings 32 a at one end thereof for pivotal connection to stationary baseplate 34. Base plate 34 is preferably generally rectangular in shape andhas a plurality of spaced apart hollow circular rings 34 a at one endthereof for alignment and receipt between rings 32 a for pivotalconnection of throttle pedal 32 to base plate throttle pedal 32. Rings32 a and rings 34 a are pivotally held in alignment by pin 36 aboutwhich rings 32 a rotate.

[0021] Base plate 34 is preferably rigidly connected to mounting plate38. Mounting plate 38 preferably has a plurality of bolt receiving holes38 a therein for receipt of bolts 39 shown in FIG. 2. Bolts 39 are alsoreceived in existing bracket 40 of all-terrain vehicle 12 for connectingpedal assembly 30 to all-terrain vehicle 12 as shown in FIG. 3. Ifdesired, mounting plate 38 and pedal assembly 30 could be connected toall-terrain vehicle 12 in any desired manner known to those skilled inthe art. For example, mounting plate 38 could be welded to existingstructural members of all-terrain vehicle 12, or mounting plate 38 couldbe eliminated and base plate 34 could be connected to all-terrainvehicle by bolting, welding, or the like.

[0022] A spring 42 for biasing throttle pedal 32 upwardly is coiledabout pin 44. Pin 44 is rigidly connected to spring bracket 46, andspring bracket 46 is rigidly connected to the top side 34 a of baseplate 34. One end 42 a rests against the top side 34 a of base plate 34and the other end 42 b of spring 42 presses against the bottom side 32 cof throttle pedal 32 to place an upwardly biasing force on the bottomside 32 c of throttle pedal 32.

[0023] A pedal stopping bracket generally indicated by the numeral 29limits the upward movement of throttle pedal 32 is shown in FIGS. 1 and2. Pedal stopping bracket 29 has a leg 29 a rigidly connectedperpendicularly to base plate 34, and a horizontal arm 29 b whichcontacts the upper surface 32 b of throttle pedal 32 when the foot 33 ofthe operator is removed from throttle pedal 32.

[0024] Also connected to the bottom side 32 a of throttle pedal 32 is athrottle cable driving assembly generally indicated by the numeral 48.Throttle cable driving assembly 48 includes two throttle cable drivingassembly brackets 50-50 rigidly connected to bottom side 32 a ofthrottle pedal 32. Received in brackets 50-50 is the elongated centerportion 52 a of U-shaped cable holder clamp 52. Elongated center portion52 a has two parallel arms 52 b-52 b extending therefrom which haveinward turned ends 52 c-52 c which are parallel to elongated centerportion 52 a. Ends 52 c-52 c are rotatably received in the generallycylindrical cable holder 54.

[0025] Cable holder 54 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape andhas two outer edges 54 a-54 a which slide over the top surface 34 a ofbase plate 34 as indicated by the arrow 56 in FIG. 2 as throttle pedal32 pivots downward as indicated by arrow 35 in FIG. 2. As throttle pedal32 pivots downward as indicated by arrow 35 in FIG. 2, clamp 52 rotatesin the direction indicated by the arrow 58 in FIG. 2.

[0026] Foot throttle cable 60 is a wire which is connected at its lowerend to cable holder 54 by conventional cable clamps 62 and 64 and theupper end of throttle cable 60 is connected to throttle lever 16 byclamp 16 a. The upper end of sheath 66 is rigidly connected to handlebar 14 by clamp 14 b which is connected to bracket 14 c on handlebar 14.Foot throttle cable 60 is slidably received in sheath 66. Sheath 66 isrigidly connected to base plate 34 by bracket 68 and rigid tube 70.Sheath 60 is snugly received in rigid tube 70 to prevent cable 60 andsheath 66 from bending at the lower end of sheath 66 as cable 60 driveninto sheath 66 as indicated by the arrow 72 in FIG. 2.

[0027] As can be seen from the above detailed description of theinvention, the foot throttle of the present invention can be quickly andeasily connected to any all-terrain vehicle. The foot throttle 10 of theinvention enables an all-terrain vehicle operator to free the handnormally used to activate the throttle lever 16 for other uses while thethrottle of all-terrain vehicle 12 is controlled by one foot of theoperator.

[0028] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail above, it should be understood that the invention isno sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that ofthe following claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A foot operated throttle for an all-terrainvehicle having an engine for propelling said vehicle, two handlebars forsteering said vehicle, and a throttle lever connected to one of said twohandlebars for controlling the speed of said engine, said foot operatedthrottle comprising: a. a base plate rigidly connected to saidall-terrain vehicle, b. a foot pedal pivotally connected to said baseplate for depression and release by a foot of an operator of saidall-terrain vehicle, said foot pedal having a spring for biasing saidfoot pedal away from said base plate, and c. a cable assembly connectedto said foot pedal and to said handlebar having said throttle leverconnected thereto, said cable assembly including a sheath having a wirecable slidably received therein, said sheath having a first end and asecond end, said wire cable having a first end and a second end, saidfirst end of said sheath being rigidly connected to said handlebarhaving said throttle lever connected thereto, said second end of saidsheath being connected to said base plate, said first end of said wirecable being rigidly connected to said throttle lever, said second end ofsaid wire cable being connected to said foot pedal to enable movement ofsaid pedal to move said cable within said sheath.
 2. The foot operatedthrottle of claim 1 wherein said base plate has bracket connectedthereto for limiting the movement of said pedal.
 3. The foot operatedthrottle of claim 1 wherein said foot pedal has a cable holder clamppivotally connected thereto.
 4. The foot operated throttle of claim 3wherein said cable holder clamp has a cable holder rotatably connectedthereto.
 5. The foot operated throttle of claim 4 wherein said secondend of said wire cable is connected to said cable holder.
 6. The footoperated throttle of claim 5 wherein said cable holder is generallycylindrical in shape.
 7. The foot operated throttle of claim 1 whereinsaid spring is connected to said base plate.
 8. The foot operatedthrottle of claim 1 wherein said second end of said sheath is receivedin a rigid tube which is connected to said base plate.
 9. The footoperated throttle of claim 1 wherein said base plate is adapted to berigidly connected to said vehicle.
 10. The foot operated throttle ofclaim 1 wherein said base plate is generally rectangular in shape. 11.The foot operated throttle of claim 1 wherein said foot pedal isgenerally rectangular in shape.
 12. A foot operated throttle for anall-terrain vehicle having an engine for propelling said vehicle, twohandlebars for steering said vehicle, and a throttle lever connected toone of said two handlebars for controlling the speed of said engine,said foot operated throttle comprising: a. a base plate rigidlyconnected to said all-terrain vehicle, b. a foot pedal pivotallyconnected to said base plate for depression and release by a foot of anoperator of said all-terrain vehicle, said foot pedal having a springfor biasing said foot pedal away from said base plate, said base platehaving bracket connected thereto for limiting the movement of saidpedal, and c. a cable assembly connected to said foot pedal and to saidhandlebar having said throttle lever connected thereto, said cableassembly including a sheath having a wire cable slidably receivedtherein, said sheath having a first end and a second end, said wirecable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said sheathbeing rigidly connected to said handlebar having said throttle leverconnected thereto, said second end of said sheath being connected tosaid base plate, said first end of said wire cable being rigidlyconnected to said throttle lever, said second end of said wire cablebeing connected to said foot pedal to enable movement of said pedal tomove said cable within said sheath, said foot pedal having a cableholder clamp pivotally connected thereto.
 13. The foot operated throttleof claim 12 wherein said cable holder clamp has a cable holder rotatablyconnected thereto.
 14. The foot operated throttle of claim 13 whereinsaid second end of said wire cable is connected to said cable holder.15. The foot operated throttle of claim 14 wherein said cable holder isgenerally cylindrical in shape.
 16. The foot operated throttle of claim12 wherein said spring is connected to said base plate.
 17. The footoperated throttle of claim 12 wherein said second end of said sheath isreceived in a rigid tube which is connected to said base plate.
 18. Thefoot operated throttle of claim 12 wherein said base plate is adapted tobe rigidly connected to said vehicle.
 19. The foot operated throttle ofclaim 12 wherein said base plate is generally rectangular in shape. 20.The foot operated throttle of claim 12 wherein said foot pedal isgenerally rectangular in shape.